University of Minnesota Athletics
John Mariucci - M Club Hall of Fame
John Mariucci
Men’s Hockey, 1938-40
Football, 1938-40
HOF Class of 1991
In 1938, John Mariucci came from the Iron Range town of Eveleth to the University of Minnesota, where he starred as a defenseman on Coach Larry Armstrong's hockey team and played offensive and defensive end on Coach Bernie Bierman's football squad.
Mariucci earned All-American honors in 1940 while leading the hockey team to its first AAU National Championship – and he helped the football team win a National Championship.
After college, Mariucci joined the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, where his toughness made him a big fan favorite and he became the first American-born player ever to captain an NHL team.
Mariucci became Gopher Hockey’s head coach in 1952. He would hold that post until 1966, with a 207-142-15 record, including conference championships in 1953 and 1954 and four NCAA playoff appearances.
He also guided the Americans to a silver medal in the 1956 Olympics in Cortina, Italy, and later worked with the NHL's expansion Minnesota North Stars.
Mariucci is a member of both the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth and the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, and a recipient of the NHL's Lester Patrick Award for his contributions to U.S. hockey.
In 1985, the hockey half of Minnesota’s Williams Arena was renamed Mariucci Arena.